The Mommy Wars

Apparently a very stupid woman appeared on television and said that Ann Romney never worked a day in her life and didn't know how to handle economic things like how to feed her kids.  For those of you who were under a rock (or were like me and dealing with a sick child, which was infinitely more important than watching a stupid woman on television), Ann Romney is a stay at home mom of five.

Now that 2.0 is feeling a little better (more on what's going on with him on Saturday after we see the doctor again), I was able to see the actual interview where this not so intelligent woman spoke and I must say I was enraged.

I'm a stay at home mom and I did work part time outside the home before deciding to stay home with my child.  Let me tell you that I work harder now than I have ever worked in my entire life.  I've worked jobs that demanded 60 and 70 hour work weeks (10-12 hour days, six days a week) and I've worked jobs that were very physically demanding (you try wrestling a 120 pound saint bernard to the floor to cut his nails), but this job of being 2.0's mom is the most physically demanding and emotionally taxing job ever.

I've written a post about being a stay at home mom.  I work 24/7 without sick days or vacation days.  I'm lucky if I get to go to the bathroom by myself, let alone take a lunch break.  I'm on call when my son is not in my care and I always wonder if he's okay without me.  I count his calories when I probably should count mine and I try to make sure that he gets as much fresh air and exercise as he can stand.  When he's sick in the middle of the night, I'm up with him at the cost of my own rest while my husband sleeps because he works so much.  During the day, I balance running errands with nap times and meal times.

When another woman tries to say that a stay at home mom doesn't know about economic things like how to feed her kids, I see a woman who doesn't know what it means to be a mom full time.  I know about economic things.  I know that I have more month at the end of my money most months and I try to balance nutrition with cost.  Believe me, I know about sacrificing financially so I can be where I am.  I know about figuring out the cost of a pack of diapers right down to how much each diaper is.  I know about balancing budgets for food.  I'm sure that a stay at home mom could balance America's budget where so many 'experts' can't seem to do it at all.

So here's what I say about that stupid woman who got on TV and stuck her foot in her mouth:
Shame on you.  Shame on you for thinking that being the protector of my child makes me less than you because you have a career.  Shame on you for creating a wedge between moms who work outside the home and moms who work inside of it.  Shame on you for making those of us who can stay home feel like we're so small and you are so much greater.

Now I have to change a diaper, give a breathing treatment, go out and pick up medicine, then come back in time to get my husband from work and make his dinner.  It's time to go to work.